My Weaknesses

Yes. It is my little ones. I just love them to pieces. Thought I would take a minute or 30 and reflect on this past year. Be prepared for a story of two. I just love these kids and I can not say enough about them.

I can not can not tell you how much I just love age 5. I can hardly stand it. When I think of Max I just see his big smile and darling dimples. "Mom, Don't say no. Don't say no. Can I play a game on the computer?" "Is it a friend's day?" When he asks, it's not in a bratty I am going to throw a fit if you say no sort of way. It is in the most sincere and innocent voice. He has this desire to please, to try his best, and to do what is right. A few days back in the early morning Tim was searching around the house for Max. He finally found him cuddled up in a blanket on Jacqualynn's floor. Max said that he was just waiting for her to wake up so he could take care of her. I love hearing his sweet voice when he is playing big brother. "Jacq Jacq.. .it's OK Jacq Jacq." Somehow he manages to calm her every time. Three days before Christmas, Max says to me, "Hey Mom, Do you think Santa will bring me underwear in my size 5." Apparently my big boy Max has been squeezing into some pretty small tidy whiteys and never even thought to complain about it. That's my Max. He is an easy going, fun loving, sweet boy.

Talk about a free spirit. I'm not sure they come much freer than Alexander Mcflander. When this bundle of energy isn't wrestling his brothers he can most certainly be found bouncing off the wall. Excited and eager for life, he is the first one to jump in and try something new. Alexander may be a little guy but with all his energy and zest he can surely hold his own and probably his two brothers too. He has lots of loves to give and can't wait to share them. He will sit on my lap for hours and let me read him story after story. All Christmas break he has been begging. "Is school today? Is school today?" I am pretty sure he doesn't have this intense love for learning. I can't get the little guy to hold still for a half a second, let alone color a picture, write his name, talk about his ABC's, nope nothing. If I was a betting mom, my chips would be that he has an intense love for people. Every time I pick him up from school he has big loves and kisses for his teacher, high fives for his friends, and couple extra loves to share with his mom. Love this bundle of energy and I am going to be soaking up all the love I can.
Look at that face. It really says it all about our Barrett boy. He wears all his emotions right on his shirt sleeve. It usually takes him a bit to warm up, but if you win his heart it will be yours forever. I am not exaggerating when I write that we talk about his Papa/Nana every single day at least once. "Is Papa coming?" "I call Papa?" "Can I show Papa?" Somehow Papa won his tender little heart and he is stuck with it for a good long time. In a new situation Barrett is a little reserved or let's be honest he can be found hiding behind a table or under a blanket. He has to survey the situation and make sure it works in his world. Then he will join the group usually doing his own thing. Sledding last week he managed to create his own little hill and had a ball just with him, himself, and him. There is no mistaken how this kids feels. When he is in good spirits ~ he is all smiles. When he is a grumpy gus ~ his little lip pouts out so far that you know he needs a little one on one time. Barrett heard elf bells just before Christmas, he was so excited he could hardly speak and I am pretty sure that his heart was going to pound out of his chest. He is a little guy with a lot of feelings. He is who he is and we love him.

SISSY! Can you say Party Animal. Dancing Queen. Little Miss Thing. When she walks in the room the party can begin. Everything is all about her and that is the way she likes it. Randomly we catch her rockin' out dancing and screaming WHOOOHOOO! It makes me smile thinking about it. This girl has a spark and it is contagious. After reading all that you would think that she is all girl all the time. Think again. She knows what she wants when she wants it and how to get it. Sissy picks her bows. Her shoes. Her clothes. She lets you know if she wants curls ~ Chu Chu. (That is the sound we make for hairspray) or to wash her hands. She is smarter than a whip. She is the first Watson little one to figure out that she can use the bathroom as an excuse to get out of sacrament meeting. She can hold her own even with the big guys. If they have a toy she wants ~ She gets it. I think we have crying brothers more often than a crying sissy. She gets down and dirty with them and let's be honest she usually wins. We have got a spitfire on our hands and her name is Jacqualynn Grace.

Thanks for letting me share about my little ones. I just love them*love them*love them. It's been a fun year with a lot of great memories. To 2007*welcome 2008!

Whirlwind of FUN

We are so lucky! Yes we are. I love it when we have a special visitor and especially when that visitor is Ma Deb! The kids are in Heaven and I secretly think she is in heaven as well. I know I am in Heaven. :) I really don't even know where to start. It has been a whirlwind of fun since she arrived. The kids secret agent her room every morning. They plead and beg for her attention. And they honestly can not get enough loves and squeezes. YIPEE SKIPPEE TO MA DEB! And to sledding. Date Night. Swimming. Game Night. Girls Night out. And the Museum.

Christmas 2007

Merry Merry Christmas! I think we wore the kiddies out! On a regular morning they are up and playing by 6:30am. Not on Christmas. They seriously slept forever. Christmas at the Watson's is always a good time. The kids haven't asked about presents all month and I can't tell you how much I appreciated that. I have to admit that when we started to open presents I'm not sure they even took time to look at what they got let alone breathe. They were ready to move on to the next present then the next. Next year I think I will wrap up the same old toys from the playroom. They won't know the difference. They just liked opening more and more and more. :) It was fun all the same to hear their squeals and thank you's. Most of Christmas day we just lounged around the house in our PJ's, snacking on more yummy food, and headed over to the Watson's for some more opening. More and more and more opening. As I reflect back on today the highlights, and undoubtedly the memories, are in seeing friends and family. Not opening presents. That may sound cheesy, but it feels true. Thanks to everyone who spent the day with us, thought about us, sent cards and texts. . .You are the best gifts we could get this year. Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve

These are all the things I love about Christmas eve. I love dressing in our Sunday Best. That Santa visits our house. Super yummy food that takes about all day to prepare. Helping to prepare it. The pickle. Talking about the birth of Jesus. Singing. . .singing off key. Matching Pajamas. Family. Feeling the spirit and magic of Christmas. I love it that even though I am not together with all my family. I know we are all attending the same party all over the the U.S. Thank you to Great Grandma Barrett. Here are pictures from the Utah Christmas Eve party.

Merry Christmas!

"The Magic of Christmas is not in the presents,

but in His Presence."

Merry Christmas

from our family to yours. :)

I heart Midway!

Nothing says Christmas like skipping town and relaxing days before *The Big Day*. Midway is one of our all time favorite places to visit. These are our favorite things to do on Vacation.
Swimming. Max says, "We have to go swimming everyday!" Since everyone loves it ~ we swim at least once a day. Snow Fun. Whether it is sledding or just stepping out the door to throw a couple snowballs the kids love love love the snow. Xander says, "I throw snowball at Daddy, and Max, and Barrett, but not you mom." Don't trust him for a second! I've been tagged a fair amount of times from the little fibber himself.

Snacking. Vacation is the time to break all the rules. Hot chocolate. Cinnamon rolls. Cookies. Sundaes. Popcorn. Juices. You name it. Anything goes. And the kids love that. Barrett would NOT NOT NOT take a bite of the ice cream sundae. He says, "I just like blueberries!"

Snoozing. Or I should write the lack of Snoozing. No naptime. No super strick bedtime. The boys mostly just wrestle~giggle~play. They are loving every minute of this vacation business. I am suprised I haven't found them crashed out in a corner somewhere. Sissy discovered that she is a big girl and that she likes a big girl bed. Just ask her, "MINE." I sat on her bed and I haven't heard the end of it, "MINE!" "MINE!" "MINE!" Just love her and her two year old . . .only girl . . .I am spoiled rotten. . . MINE!
Family times are ranked #1 in my book. The children are young for such a short amount of time. It seems like I blink and they have hit another milestone or are in the next size clothing. I remind myself regulary to take the time to enjoy them, hug them a little longer, read just one more book, let them smell the roses, and sled down the hill one more time. I love them. This little family of mine helps make my world go round. Grateful for them in my life. And especially grateful for their Dad.

Our Little Elves!

Today was the school program for Alexander and Barrett. Boy are they the cutest little elves I have ever seen. They sure love their teacher, their school and their friends. At the program there was suppose to be a lot of singing and there was, but not for our two little elves. No singing for them. OK I'll be fair there was some singing and some actions. Mostly there was booger picking, yawning, busy hands, turning around backwards in their seats. You know what most 3 year old boys love to do. But not singing. I love them singing or not and I think they are pretty adorable elves.

Simple Secrets

I always told myself that I wouldn't hide vegetables in food as a way to get my children/husband to actually eat them. My thought process is ~ eat it because it's good for you and I tell you to eat it. That sounds so like me. After all, I am the mom right? MOM = THE BOSS at my house. :) If it was only that easy. The Watson children have actually taken quite a liking to broccoli, cucumbers, and carrots. They eat them pretty regularly, but I just feel like they are still not getting quite enough good nutrients. I've heard a lot of talk about Deceptively Delicious and decided to pick it up at Costco today. My goal is to incorporate vegetables at breakfast and there are a few quick good ideas. Tomorrow I am going to try the french toast.

French Toast
*4 large eggs
*2Tablespoons banana or pineapple or sweet potato or carrot or butternut squash puree or canned pumpkin.
*1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
*4 slices whole-wheat bread
*Pure Maple syrup
*Flax seed meal (optional)

One of my big secrets to get the kids to eat their veggies is a "special dip." Special can mean anything. . .ketch up, yogurt, dressing. Kids love to dippity dip and my kids are no exception. Give them yummy dip and they will ask for more cucumber. Love this dip idea.

Chocolate Peanut butter dip
1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter
1/2 cup FF cream cheese
6 Tablespoons of chocolate syrup
1/4 cup carrot puree
1/2 teaspoon salt
fruit/veggies for dipping.

The Watson little ones will still have veggies on the side for lunch and dinner but we just might sneak a little something healthy in our next Sunday treat. ;) Love to hear any of your vegetable eating secrets.

It's tradition

Hop the nearest train. Head to the biggest city. Grab some yummy eats. And look at the beautiful Christmas lights. There is no real purpose. Just getting together with the ones we love. It's tradition and I love it.

All about Shauna

I've been tagged.

5 things I was doing 10 years ago. 1. In my second semester of college at BYU Hawaii. 2. Trying to figure out where all my acne came from. I looked pretty hideous. It took over my entire face, neck and back. :) 3. Working as an intramural referee. 4. Hiking, surfing, playing all over Oahu. 5. Trying to just take care of me. Life was pretty rough back then. :)

5 things on my to do list today. 1.Make a to do list. :) 2. Yoga. 3. Shower. 4. Make Potatoes for ward party. 5. Survive my last day of four as a single mother. Tim comes home in two hours and I'm not counting.

5 Snacks I enjoy. 1. Peanut Butter M&M's. 2. Banana with Peanut Butter. 3. Chocolate Mint Protein shake. 4. Cooked Broccoli with FF Zesty Italian dressing. 5. Green Beans cooked with coconut oil, mushrooms, and purple onions.

5 Things I would do if I were a billionaire. 1. I would buy property on Mason lake and build a beautiful cabin with room for all my friends and family. 2. Take all my ironing clothes to the dry cleaner. No more ironing for me. 3. Donate to a good cause. 4. Perform random acts of kindness. My parents did that and I liked it. 5. Let Tim Manage the rest.

5 Bad Habits. 1. Being extreme. If I find something I like doing ~ it consumes me. Exercise. A good book. Blogging. Healthy Eating. Etc. 2. I yell at my kids. Especially Barrett or maybe it was Xander . . . poor kids. My parents yelled. . .we turned out OK. . .I think. 3. I don't wash my face at night. . .or in the morning.. . or take showers every day. Gross. 4. When Tim is around I expect him to do the disciplining. I do it all day, right? 5. Binging. I love to eat~eat~and eat some more. Those are some bad habit.

5 Places I have lived. 1.Washington State. 2. Hawaii. 3. Utah. 4. California. 5. Idaho

5 Job that I have had. 1. Ironed uniforms. 2. Cut toenails. 3. Telemarketing. 4. Facilitated trouble adolescents. 5. Being a MOM! Gotta love it. The hardest but most rewarding job I have ever had.

5 things you may not know about me. 1. I taught my boys to pee in the shower this morning. This would really gross Tim out. Like he would probably have to sleep in our spare bed or something dramatic. :) At least they were aiming for the drain. 2. I had all four of our children in 3 years ~ 3 weeks and yes we planned them. Planned everyone one of them. Some days I ask myself, "What were we thinking?" 3. My favorite color is brown. It's so simple and netural. 4. Sometimes I leave the dishes in the sink hoping Tim will do them. He usually does. :) 5. I always have music playing. In my kitchen. In my car. At the gym. I prefer background noise to complete silence.

Now I tag five people. Leave a comment on their blog telling them that they've been tagged.

Lyss, Bec, Liz, Holly, Mom.

Two Moons

Let's just say I fixed up something a little something different for dinner. Something new. Something kind of interesting. Something way healthy. I was kind of pat patting myself on the back. I thought to myself, "Self this is so great. What a good mom you are. You are introducing new foods to your children's palate." LOL. I sat down at table to join my little herd and to my surprise I literally saw two moons. :) I guess they showed me what they thought of dinner. Stinkers.

Bear Hug

This evening we attended a little open house at Max's School. It was darling. Treats. Santa. Caroling. Crafts. They asked the students to participate in a little service project were they earned money and purchased a bear to donate. It looked like 100 bears of all shapes and sizes under their little tree. I have been trying to rack my brain for a service project that we could do as a little family. I am coming up empty. Any ideas? I want to teach my children the value of service, but I want them to be able to participate and not watch Tim and I do it all. HELP!

Imaginary Craziness

Not a bad looking group if you ask me! I am pretty sure that we may all be crazy in our own right . . .I mean how could we not be. . .take a second look at those pictures. ;) Putting all the craziness aside when this group gets together it is always a good time. Papa and Nana were our special out of town visitors and the kids could not get enough of them. Papa and Max threw paper airplanes all over the house, in the Christmas tree, on top of the cupboards and HECK even at Aunt Lyss. Alexander was actually attached to Aunt Jen's hip. For some reason he thought she was the coolest thing since Lightening McQueen and that 's a big deal at our house. Barrett was adorable. He could not get enough of his Papa. He sheepishly followed him around, snuck on his lap every chance he got, paired up with him and Nana for Gingerbread houses, and even gave him his very own cookie when he realized that Papa didn't have one. Now if that isn't craziness I don't know what is. Sister really truly beats to her very own drum. . . she just did her own thing all night and was of course a total brat about it. NO . . .NO . . NO! She is way in her "terrible two's." I am enjoying every minute of her, but I can't wait for her to get out of those terrible two's. To say the least there was craziness all around the house, but it was fun fun times and memories etched in stone. Thanks everyone for a great party.